Local businesses make marketing mistakes they’re not even aware of
Success in today’s highly competitive markets requires strong marketing skills. Whether you are a small start-up or a large enterprise, you can’t survive with an inefficient marketing plan. It is essential that every business identifies the marketing mistakes they are committing, learn from these mistakes and prevent them from happening again. Let us take a look at some of the most common mistakes that cost businesses money.
Here are the most common mistakes local businesses make
Doing nothing
Many businesses don’t do any marketing or very little of it. They think that having a great product is enough to bring in customers. Some depend on the basic marketing methods that no longer work in the digital world we live in now. It is extremely important for every business to have a strong and comprehensive marketing plan that covers all aspects of marketing.
Not knowing the audience
A marketing campaign is effective only if you target it to the right audience. Many businesses don’t succeed with their marketing efforts despite having a good product and developing valuable content. This happens because they fail to identify their target audience correctly. Businesses must tailor their content to the specific audience that is most likely to buy from them.
Ignoring the mobile users
Almost everyone owns a smart phone these days, so it is important that no business overlooks mobile customers. While most businesses have websites, not many optimize it for mobile devices. Research shows that about 50% of people admit that they will use a business less often if they do not have a mobile friendly website even if they liked the brand. Another recent research by Google shows 72 percent of mobile users say it’s important to them that websites are mobile-friendly. So, there is no reason why your business should not have a mobile-friendly website.
Not having a blog
Blogs help engage the audience and increase traffic. Businesses that have blogs have more inbound links. Inbound links boost a website’s authority which helps increase traffic. It’s a great way to communicate with the audience and build a relationship with them. When you let people comment on your blog and you reply to them, it establishes one-to-one communication and is a nifty way to get feedback from them. You can share your blogs on social media as wee. This can further enhance audience engagement.
Avoiding social media
This is the biggest marketing mistake any business can commit in this day and age. With half the world using social media, there is no reason why your business shouldn’t be there. Social media is one of the best and cheapest ways to interact with your audience. Social media helps with brand building, customer interaction, buzz building and enhances marketing effectiveness and overall reach.
Not using SEO
Your website is of no use if no one can find it. SEO is the perfect way to bring your website on the top of search engine results page. SEO increases visibility and makes it easier for prospects to find your business when they search for a product/service you have to offer. Research shows that 75% of the users do not scroll to page 2, which means, you should try to be on top of the search engine results page for the targeted keywords. Ignoring SEO can prove detrimental to businesses in this fiercely competitive digital world. Hiring a knowledgeable SEO consultant is a wise investment for many local businesses.
Not using data analytics
Many businesses make the mistake of not analyzing the data properly and using the right analytical tools. Data analytics is an integral part of marketing. It lets you make correct decisions on behavior prediction and customer trends and ultimately, increase business profitability. It also helps assess the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
These are just some of the common marketing mistakes businesses tend to make. By avoiding these mistakes and the right marketing strategies, businesses can see an increase in sales, customer satisfaction, and profitability. If you think your marketing efforts need a push in the right direction, it makes sense to seek help from professional marketers. This will ensure that your marketing dollars are spent the right way and offer a good ROI.
Local businesses can certainly learn from these mistakes and avoid them in the future.